Carpet-sweeper-brush cleaner and stripper



E R. SMITH. CARPET SWEEPER BRUSH CLEANER AND STRIPPER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I9, 1919.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

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EARLE B. SMITH, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed August 19, 1919. Serial No. 318,496.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARLE 1%. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angel'es, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Carpet-Sweeper- Brush Cleaners and Strippers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning the rotary brushes of carpet sweepers and like implements, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby hairs, threads and ravelings will be automatically removed from the bristles of the brush and prevented from accumulating therein.

In the use of carpet sweepers and like devices it is necessary to remove the brush and dislodge accumulations of hairs, threads and ravelings from the bristles at frequent intervals, since these accumulations become so intimately associated with the bristles as to tie and bind the same together, with the result that the bristles are prevented from having their resilient action and the efliciency of the brush as a sweeping or cleaning element is greatly decreased. These accumulations of hairs and threads can only be removed from the bristles with difficulty. and it is not only a disagreeable and unpleasant operation. but is usually accompanied by more or less breakage and mutilation of the bristles, with the result that the brushes must be replaced at frequent intervals of time in order to maintain the etiiciency of the sweeper.

According to the present invention stripping or combing elements are associated with the brush in such amanner as to automatically remove fibrous material such as hairs or threads from the bristles and prevent them from accumulating therein, thereby avoiding the necessity of manually removing and cleaning the brush at intervals. and also maintaining the brush at a maxi mum degree of efliciency until the bristles are worn by sweepin or cleaning.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully appear as the description proceeds. the invention consists in certain combinations, arrangements and associations of the parts and elements, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a transverse sectional view through a carpet sweeper provided with a brush cleaning attachment which is con structed in accordance with the invention. the position of the brush cleaning elements when the brush is revolving in the direction indicated by the solid line arrow being indicated by full lines, while the position of the brush cleaning elements when the brush is revolving in the reverse direction indicated by the dotted line arrow, is shown by dotted lines;

F 2 is a top plan view of the attachment, showing it removed from the sweeper;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof:

Figs. 4.- and 5 are detail views of the hingeconnection between the supporting arms and the brush cleaning combs; and,

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the extremity of one of the bracket arms before the slit portions thereof are bent to form the hinge knuckle and stop members.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by like reference characters.

F or the purpose of illustration the invention is shown as applied to a carpet sweeper, although it will be understood that it can be utilized in the same manner for cleaning or stripping the bristles of any rotary brush used in a similar device or appliance. The reference character A designates the body or casing of the carpet sweeper, and B the rotary brush which is mounted therein and arranged to be driven in the conventional manner from the wheels C. As the carpet sweeper is moved back and forth across the floor or other surface to be cleaned, the brush B is alternately rotated in opposite directions, with the result that the bristles of the brush have a sweeping action and cause the dirt or dust to be deposited in the pans or trays D. This is all of the well-known and conventional construction, and no claim to novelty is based thereon. The brush B is ordinarily constructed and mounted in such a manner that it can be easily removed for the purpose of cleaning the same.

According to the present invention a pair of stripping members or combs 1 is provided, one of the stripping members being arranged upon each side of the brush and said stripping members having teeth 1 which are adapted to project through the bristles and have a combing action thereon for the purpose of removing any fibrous material or hairs which would otherwise have a tendency to cling to and become embedded in the bristles. These combs 1 are shown as hingedly connected to the arms of arched brackets 2 which have the upper ends thereof secured to the casing A of the sweeper by suitable fastening members such as the screws 3. These arched -0r inverted U- shaped brackets may be formed in any suitable manner and are of the proper size to span the rotary brush B and hold the combs 1 in proper position at the sides of the brush for alternate engagement with the bristles thereof when the brush is rotated in opposite directions, as will be hereinafter described. In the present instance the arched brackets 2 are shown as formed of strips of flat material, the arms of the brackets having the flat sides thereof in vertical planes, while the intermediate portion 2 of each bracket is twisted or turned into a position at right angles thereto so as. to fit squarely against the top of the sweeper casing A, and the extremities of each bracket are similarly twisted or turned to bring the same into proper position to form the hinged joints with the combs.

The arms of the arched brackets 2 are shown as provided with a pair of slits which provide an intermediate tongue 1 and side wings 5. The tongues 4 pass through slots 6 in the back or rear edge portions of the combs 1 and are turned to provide eyes which pivotally engage the combs. The combs or brush stripping members 1 are then free to swing outward and away from the brush B, as indicated by Fig. 1, and it will be observed that the combs are inclined downwardly and are at all times arranged at an angle to a radial line extending from the brush. Tension springs 7 connect the combs 1 to the arms of the arched brackets 2 and normally tend to swing the combs inwardly toward the brush. and the inward swinging movement of each comb is limited by suitable stops, such as those which are provided in the present instance by the side wings These stops lock the combs against further movement when they have been swung inwardly into a position at substantially 45 degrees to a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the brush. When either one of the combs is in this position the teeth 1 thereof extend into the bristles of the brush so as to have a combing action as the bristles are revolved a ainst the teeth of the comb and strip any dbrous material such as hairs orthreadsfrom the bristles of the brush. The hairs or other fibrous materials thus removed from the brush will be deposited in the respective pan or tray D, the Whole operation being automatic and re quiring no attention from the operator after the attachment has once been installed and properly adjusted.

As previously explained, the two combs 1 which are mounted upon opposite sides of the brush B have a swinging movement and are alternately brought into operative position as the brush is rotated in opposite directions due to the back and forth movement of the sweeper over the floor. Owing to the fact that each of the combs 1 is always inclined downwardly and arranged at an angle to the radius of the brush, it will be obvious that when the brush is rotated in one direction the bristles thereof will frictionally engage the comb and swing it outwardly against the action of the spring 7 into an inoperative position. However, as soon as the direction of rotation of the brush is reversed the action of the bristles will cause the comb to swing inwardly into operative position. This inward swinging movement is limited by the stops 5 when the comb reaches a position at substantially 15 degrees to a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the brush, and the continued engagement of the bris tles of the teeth of the comb will maintain the comb in this position. The two combs 1 on opposite sides of the brush B are reversely inclined, with the result that when the brush B is revolved in one direction, one of the combs is brought into operative position while the other comb is swung out wardly into inoperative position, and vice versa. The action of the combs is entirely automatic, and they are alternately swung into and out of operative position as the brush is revolved in opposite directions. One of the combs is always in operative position and serves to remove fibrous material such as hairs and threads from the brush as fast as they are collected by the bristles of the brush. Fibrous accumulations are thus prevented from forming upon the brush and the sweeper is maintained at a degree of maximum efliciency at all times until the bristles of the brush are worn by the sweeping operations. It is obvious that the particular arrangement of the comb members with relation to the bristle area of the brush permits the comb members to be thrown into operative or inoperative position, dependent upon the direction to which it 1s moved. When one of the comb members 1s 1n operative pos1t1on combing the brush, any fibrous or foreign material the foreign material into the pan. By the comb acting as a gate between the brush and the dust pan it is evident that the same foreign material cannot again be picked up by the brush, and for this reason the particular arrangement of the combs and the method of mountingsame, will at all times keep the brush free from the same foreign substance. It is also obvious that if the comb acts as a gate between the brush and its dust pan any over-accumulation of dirt or foreign substancein the dust pan will not contact with the bristle area of the brush because of the gate action of each of said combs.

While I have described one particular embodiment of the invention and illustrated it as utilized in connection with a carpet sweeper, it will be obvious that many modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the invention, and that the'brush cleaning or stripping device can be utilized to advantage wherever a rotary brush is utilized in connection with a cleanin or sweeping implement.

aving t us disclosed my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A sweeper, comprising a rotary brush, a stripping comb, and means for mounting the comb adjacent the brush with the teeth of the comb arranged to pass through the bristles of the brush as the brush is rotated; and resilientm eans automatically moving said comb into and out of operative position as the brush is rotated in opposite directions.

2. A cleaner for the J rotary brushes of carpet sweepers and the like, including a stripping comb pivotally mounted at one side of the brush, resilient means normally tending to swing the comb into the brush and into engagement with the bristles thereof, and stop means for limiting the inward swinging movement of the comb when at an angle to a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the brush, whereby the frictional engagement of the bristles of the brush with the comb will automatically swing the comb into and out of operative position as the brush is revolved in opposite directions, said comb acting as a gate between the carpet sweeper dust pan and the brush, whereby any over-accumulations of foreign matter in the pan is prevented from again contacting with the brush.

3. A sweeper comprising a rotary brush,

a pair of strlpping combs, and means for mounting said combs on opposite sides and ad acent the brush with the teeth of the combs arranged to pass through the bristles of the brush as the brush is rotated; and resilient means automatically moving said combs into and out of operative position as the brush is rotated in opposite directions.

4. A cleaner for the rotary brushes of carpet sweepers and the like, including a pair of pivotally mounted stripping combs arranged on opposite sides of the brush, resilient means normally tending to swing the combs inwardly toward the brush, and stop means for limiting the inward swinging movement of each of the combs before it reaches a radial position with respect to the brush, whereby the frictional engagement of the bristles of the brush with the combs alternately swings the same into and out of operative position as the brush is revolved in opposite directions, with one comb engaging the bristle area, while the other comb acts as a gate between the brush and the adjacent dust pan of the carpet sweeper with the bristle area of the brush sweeping the accumulations from said comb into the dust pan and positively preventing the same foreign accumulations from being again picked up by the bristle area.

5. A cleaner for the rotary brushes of carpet sweepers and the like, including arched brackets spanning the brush, stripping combs pivotally mounted upon the arms of the arched brackets and arranged on opposite sides of the brush, yielding means normally tending to swing the combs inwardly toward the brush, and stop means for limiting the inward swinging movements of the combs before they reach a radial position with respect to the brush, whereby the frictional engagement of the bristles of the brush with the combs operates to alternately swing the combs into and out of operatlve position as the brush is rotated in opposite directions.

6. A cleaner for the rotary brushes of carpet sweepers and the like, including arched brackets adapted to span the brush stripping combs movably mounted upon the arms of the arched brackets, and yielding means normally tending to move the combs into operative position, said combs having such a 1 l0 relation to the bristles as to be alternately moved into inoperative position as the brush is revolved in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name tothis specification in the presence of HUGH S. HILL, EDNA TURNER. 

